Falcons Target Kyle Pitts in Tampa Bay Showdown
Tampa Bay faces Atlanta with a 2-point spread after both teams secured upset wins last week.
By David Almasi ·
The NFC South rivalry heats up as the Falcons visit the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay for Week 8 action.
Both squads arrive with momentum after defeating higher-ranked opponents last Sunday. Atlanta halted San Francisco's perfect season at home, while Todd Bowles' Buccaneers won 30-13 in Carolina. The Bucs are favored by 2 points in this matchup.
Baker Mayfield returned to the starting lineup for Tampa Bay last week. He threw for 64 yards, but the ground game carried the offense. Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, and Sean Tucker combined for 246 rushing yards and three touchdowns in that 43-13 victory. Emeka Egbuka remains out, which may force Mayfield to rely more on Chris Godwin and Cade Otton in the passing game.
The Falcons' defense limits opposing rushers to 3.8 yards per carry and 88.4 rushing yards per game through Week 8. Derrick Henry is the only back to top 100 yards against Kevin Stefanski's unit. This defensive strength forces Tampa Bay to lean on its passing attack.
Atlanta's offense centers on Bijan Robinson, who leads the league with 704 rushing yards. The Bucs allow just 77.3 rushing yards per game and two rushing touchdowns across seven matches. This defensive profile opens the door for Atlanta to attack through the air.
Kyle Pitts has thrived since Week 3. He has recorded 19 receptions on 24 targets for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Pitts has caught at least five passes in three straight games, with Michael Penix Jr. finding him consistently. The Bucs blitz at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL and use single-high safety schemes that have left tight ends open.
The betting market favors Pitts to exceed 3.5 receptions at odds of -118 on BetMGM. He is also priced at +300 on FanDuel to score a touchdown at any time.
